There Is a Door in This Darkness

By: Kristin Cashore

Narrated by: Jorjeana Marie, Kristin Cashore

A magic-tinged contemporary YA about grief and hope from the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of the Graceling Realm novels.

Wilhelmina Hart is part of the infamous class of 2020. Her high school years began with a shocking presidential election and ended with a pandemic. In the midst of this global turmoil, she also lost one of her beloved aunts, a loss she still feels keenly. Having deferred college, Wilhelmina now lives in a limbo she can see no way out of, like so many of her peers. Wilhelmina’s personal darkness would be unbearable (especially with another monumental election looming) but for the inexplicable and seemingly magical clues that have begun to intrude on her life—flashes of bizarre, ecstatic whimsy that seem to add up to a message she can’t quite grasp. But something tells her she should follow their lead. Maybe a trail of elephants, birds, angels, and stale doughnuts will lead Wilhelmina to a door?

Critic reviews

★"Cashore threads fiction with fact in a three-generational story of love, loss, and friendship.... [A] must for all collections.—SLJ, starred review

"Cashore's command over language and her incredible mind for extraordinary ideas are reminiscent of Madeleine L'Engle. There Is a Door in This Darkness contains the wonder, and the ideas it holds are bigger than words.”—Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and I’m The Girl

“How do we get through hard and confusing times? There Is a Door in This Darkness shows us the way with charm, heart, and a sprinkle of magic. This story of family, friendship, and love is told with some very timely essentials: kindness, compassion, and empathy.”—Deb Caletti, National Book Award Finalist and Michael L. Printz Honoree

"Cashore’s work is alive to the wonder of this world—grounding you in it one aching, perfect page at a time. Wilhelmina is a mighty main character whose adventures leave an indelible glow. Also, this book has the best magical aunts ever written."—A. R. Capetta, Lambda-Literary-award-winning and bestselling author

"Cashore’s novel is rich with a quality of observation and multifarious detail that suits adolescent angst, loss, and the limited stimulation of pandemic 'bubbles.'... Although set in the recent past, this is a work of historical and magical realism with unsettling contemporary resonances."—Horn Book

"A nimbly braided slice-of-life tale."—PW

"An in-depth character study with wonder as a subtle but steady undertone."—Booklist

This moment is time is stunning

Thank you for this heartfelt and hopeful journey through real emotions. I felt as if I walk each step towards the clarity the characters sought.

A novel that needed more time in the drawer

Digesting magical realism set within recent history created a challenge for me. Particularly because Americans are back inside the muck of Biden/Trump election drama. Thus, the happy ending Cashore believed would carry us through, feels temporary in 2024. Writing recent history is fraught with peril.

Combining political realities with the revelation in Cashore’s Author’s notes addressing Wilhelmina’s actual physical issues leaves me wishing this novel hadn’t been rushed to publication, but given more time to sit in a drawer.

Still, Cashore is a wonderful writer. I am familiar with Watertown; I enjoyed reading about this setting. Frankie was unforgettable, as was James. I could not relate to Wilhelmina. I read and reread many many chapters, hoping to overcome this issue.

I was so taken by the Graceling series, I couldn’t wait to begin this novel. While it left me frustrated, I have two other Kristin Cashore novels in my Library. I look forward to immersing myself in those.

Human relationships and emotions

I love the story about the challenges in our world today and Wilhelmina’s journey to find her inner balance and acknowledge who she is. The importance of role models and friendships and the context of Covid with all the long lasting injuries to our soul due to the isolation and lack of physical proximity. I loved also the topic of lgbt and how she included the magic and taro. Thanks for this touching book